"Wonder" by R.J. Palacio
“When given the choice between being right or being kind choose kind.”
Author's Intro
Raquel Jaramillo Palacio, also known as R.J. Palacio, is a fairly new, contemporary author. Palacio lives in Brooklyn, New York with her husband, her two sons, and her two dogs. Before she became an author, she worked for more than twenty years as an art director and graphic designer, designing book jackets for other authors while she waited for the perfect time to start her own novel.
Wonder is actually Palacio’s first novel, and the story behind it is just as entertaining as the novel itself. Palacio stated that she was once at an ice cream shop with her two sons almost a decade ago. Her youngest son, who was three at the time, spotted a young girl that had a significant craniofacial difference. She stated that once her son spotted this little girl, he became instantly scared and started to cry. Without further considering any options, she grabbed her children and took them away. She regretted this decision almost instantly. She began her novel that night. (To read more on Palacio’s interview with People.com, click the following link: https://people.com/movies/wonder-rj-palacio-story-behind-book/)
Since she has completed her first novel, Palacio has also written We’re All Wonders, Auggie and Me, 365 Days of Wonder {Mr. Browne’s Brook of Precepts}, The Julian Chapter: A Wonder Story, and Pluto: A Wonder Story. Palacio has also written That Was the River for a slightly older audience which is new to Palacio's writing style.
​
After publishing Wonder, Palacio took to creating her "choose kind" movement. The "Choose Kind" campaign is meant to encourage kids, their parents, and their teachers to practice kindness as much and as often as possible. It is reiterated throughout the campaign that even a single moment of kindness can affect someone for not just a single day but their entire lifetime. The campaign encourages those interested to share their stories in hopes that others would be encouraged to practice the same principles.
Some awards Palacio has received since publishing her first novel include the following:
· 2012 Cybils-- Middle Grade Fiction
· 2012 NAPPA Gold Award—Tweens and Teens
· 2012 New Atlantic Independent Booksellers Association Award
· 2013 Black-Eyed Susan Award
· 2013 Buckeye Children’s Book Award
· 2014 Beehive Award—Fiction
· 2014 Kentucky Bluegrass Award
2014 Charlie May Simon Children's Book Award-- Grades 4-6
· 2015 Golden Archer Award--Intermediate
· 2015 Grand Canyon Reader Award
2015 Young Hoosier Book Award-- Intermediate
2015 Young Reader's Choice Award-- Junior/Grades 4-6
· 2017 Goodreads Choice Award—Picture Books
(To see all awards Palacio has received, please visit https://www.fictiondb.com/author/rj-palacio~book-awards~67502.htm)
​
​
​
​
Challenges to Teach
​
Book Introduction
​
​
Wonder is a novel written about a boy born with Treacher Collins syndrome. August "Auggie" Pullman is a ten year old boy living in New York City who is starting public school for the first time. Since he has this genetic condition, it is extremely hard for him to make friends. He lives with his parents, his sister, Via, and his dog, Daisy. On his first day, Auggie quickly finds the reality behind being a middle school boy. He meets many other students. Some are nice to him while others are cruel. Auggie spends his days in school just trying to fit in. His goal for the year is for people to see him for who he is rather than what he looks like.
​
This novel is geared more towards a middle school audience, and millions of copies have been sold. This novel is in the fiction genre, and it has recently been adapted to a film. It was produced in 2017 with R.J. Palacio being the executive director.
Awards and Recognition:
-
"A crackling page-turner filled with characters you can't help but root for" - Entertainment Weekly
-
"Wonder is the best kids' book of the year" - Slate.com
-
A USA Today Top 100 Bestseller
-
One of Time Magazine's 100 Best Young Adult Books of All Time
​
Peer pressure:
It would be important for teachers to address peer pressure. Peer pressure is defined as the direct influence on people by peers or the effect on an individual who gets encouraged to follow their peers by changing their attitudes, values, or behaviors to conform to those of the influencing group or individual. It is important for students to know what peer pressure is and different ways peer pressure takes place. Students need to know that peer pressure can be more than just behaviors. It can bring changes in thoughts, opinions, and feelings. There is both indirect and direct peer pressure, and students need to be able to differentiate between the both. It is important for students to understand peer pressure in terms of the novel because there are many kids in the novel that are being peer pressured to be a bully towards Auggie.
​
Treacher Collins Syndrome:
This challenge is an obvious one, but it can also be a very uneasy topic to discuss. Treacher Collins syndrome is a genetic condition that affects every one in twenty five thousand people. The condition alters the development of bones and other tissues in the face. It is also referred to as mandibulofacial dysostosis. Not all cases are as severe as others, and the signs and symptoms vary from individual to individual. Some characteristics of Treacher Collins syndrome include down-slanting eyes, few eyelashes, notched lower eyelids, eye abnormalities, large, beak-looking noses, obstructed or small nasal passages, absent cheekbones, underdeveloped cheekbones, absent floor and side wall of eye socket, smaller or slanted lower jaw, unusual hairlines, underdeveloped or malformed ears, defects in middle ear, or very small or missing thumbs. This is obviously relatable to the novel because this is the disease that Auggie has. It is important for students to know and understand this disease in order to relate to Auggie. When students read about the disease, they don't truly see what is going on, but when they are able to see the disease through pictures and videos, they truly get to see what someone looks like with the disease, and they can begin to imagine how that person goes through life on a daily basis.
Teaching Resources
· https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngiK1gQKgK8
This is a link to the official movie trailer to the novel. While it is not technically a “book trailer” I think it would be motivational for the students to read this before starting to read the novel. It would get them interested as well as wanting to continue reading the novel.
​
· https://wonderthebook.com/assets/downloadables/Wonder_CertifiedKInd16_CautionSign_WEB.pdf
This resource is just a poster to hang in your classroom while teaching the novel. It is just a way to reiterate for your students the idea of choosing kindness.
​
​
· https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/WONDER-FREE-CHOOSE-KIND-BOOKMARKS-POSTER-1872896
This links you to a resource for every teacher. This free download on Teachers Pay Teachers is just another poster that can be useful to hang in your classroom, but it also includes bookmark downloads that would be a good handout to students at the beginning of reading the novel.
​
​
· https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jGwwLbrwwG0
This video is one that would be very beneficial to students when teaching them about Treacher Collins syndrome. In the video, a girl named Savannah has TCS, and she is being interviewed about her life. She is asked questions about her birth and childhood as well as her adulthood. This would be a good video to show students before reading the book because it gives them a chance to see a real person with this disease. They will be able to better understand Auggie and what he goes through.
​
· https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Peer-Pressure-Acticity-1416499
This link goes to another free download from the Teachers Pay Teachers website. This download is an activity that you can do with your students after you discuss the basics of peer pressure. It allows the students to use this newly learned concept and apply it to what they already know.
​